Wireless Access Protocol (WAP):

WAP is a secure specification that allows users to access information instantly via handheld wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones and communicators. WAP is supported by all operating systems from Windows, to OS/9, to JavaOS. They also support most wireless networks. These include CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, ReFLEX, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, and Mobitex. WAP allows mobile phone uses to Email, Track the stock market, download music and discover news headlines, things that would require the internet.

How does it work?

It shows how the mobile phones communicated with the server when the internet is accessed. The mobile WAP is attached to the mobile network such as GSM, CDMA, etc. This then dials the modem which is attached to a dial-n server i.e. RAS, or the Remote Access Service. This server gives the WAP device access to the protocols it needs. These are the same lower level protocols as a normal internet service provider will give you. This is called the PPP or Point-to-Point protocol. These protocols are used to access the next step in the chain, which is the WAP gateway. The WAP gateway is the link between the wireless and the wired world, basically giving the WAP device or the mobile phone the access to the common interest.